Table



E. SENFT May 20, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i I 0 fl% a e, m 0H... I /o .u o I 1. l L 4. w J 6 7 5 l I Z 7.. 1 5 P. v a /y a 14 fi 2 l 5 a 0 1d a flu 0G v /l a I {2 2 J a M a mu o p 0 w 6 Emil Sen f -mounted at'their ends on the flange Patented May 20, 1941- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to 'an improved table provided with folding legs and means for simultaneously extending and folding said legs.

More particularly, it is an aim of this invention 1 to provide an improved card table provided with pivotally mounted legs and provided with means,-

of simple and durable construction, for simultaneously extending or folding said legs and for retaining the legs in an extended position.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a set of folding legs arranged in pairs at opposite ends of a table to fold against the underside thereof in overlapping relationship, and means for simultaneously extending or folding said legs including bars slidably mounted relatively to the table and adjacent the ends thereof with each of said bars connected at its ends to a pair of the legs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a table constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the table extended, as it would appear with one of the marginal edges of the table top removed,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical central sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the parts in extended positions,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-6 of Figure 3, and

Figure 'l is a bottom plan view on a reduced scale, of the operating mechanism only, shown in an extended position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I designates generally a card table shown to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. The table 10 includes the table top ll, provided with the marginal depending frame or flange l2 and having the longitudinally disposed reinforcing members l3, extending along the underside thereof.

A pair of connecting bars I4 are pivotally l2, adjacent to the opposite ends of the table [0 and on the underside thereof. A pair of legs I is secured to each of the bars l4 by means of the brackets adjacent one side of IS. A leg i5 is secured to an end of each bar 14 at opposite ends of said bars to lie along the side portions of the flange l2 when in a folded position, while a leg I5 is secured in spaced relationship to the other end of each bar to fold into 7 a position at the inner side of the outer legs so that the legs of each pair, when folded, are disposed in overlapping side by side relationship, as best seen in Figure 1.

Brace members l3 are provided with the slots ll, adjacent their ends, in which are slidably mounted the transversely disposed bars l8 which are held in position therein by means of the strips l8 secured to the underside of the table top I l and adapted to slidably engage the notches 20, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 5. 'Bars l8 are slightly offset relatively to each other so that one bar 18 projects beneath one of the inner legs IS, the table I!) while the other bar l8 projects beneath the other inner leg 15 adjacent the opposite side of the table.

Brace members 2| are pivotally connected by the fastenings 22 to the ends of the bars l8 and to the legs l5, adjacent their secured ends with each bar being connected at its ends to a pair of the legs l5 which are connected to a bar I4. The braces 2| which connect with the outer legs l5 are disposed between the adjacent legs, whenfolded, as seen' in Figure 1-.

A brace member 23 is secured to the underside of the top H and disposed transversely thereof, and intermediate of its ends. A lever 24 is pivotally connected intermediate of its ends, at 25, to the member 23. The lever its ends with depending studs 26 which project into slots 21, in the opposite ends of the bars l8. The slots 21 have their inner ends disposed in overlapping relationship, as best seen in Figure 1, so that when the lever 24 is in an extended position, as seen in Figure '7, the studs 26 will engage the irmer ends of the slots 21 and the lever 24 will be substantially at right angles to the bars [8, to retain the bars l8 and the legs IS in extended positions.

Brace members l3 at their ends are recessed, as indicated at l3, to accommodate the connecting bars l4 so that all of the parts of the table I!) may fold into the space bound by the flange l2.

From the foregoing it will be obvious, that lever 24 may be actuated for simultaneously moving the legs l5 from a folded position, as seen in Figure 1, to an extended position, as seen in Figures 2 and '7, by swinging the lever 24 from its diagonal position, as seen in Figure 1, to a 24 is provided at position substantially at right angles to the bars Hi to cause said bars to be projected. The lever 26 being substantially at right angles to bars l8, when the bars are extended, will prevent the less from :being' accidentally folded or collapsed. The braces 2|, which form links for connecting the ends of the bars I8 and the legs [5, while the legs are being opened and closed, form braces for rigidly holding the legs when in their open positions. Connecting bars l4 cooperate with the braces 2| for rigidly supporting the legs relatively to the table top H and'this is in fact the only function which bars id have as the legs could be hinged to the underside of the table top H and would still swing simultaneously toscope of the invention as hereinafter defined by and said legs, a lever pivotally connected to said table top, intermediate of its ends, and to said bars for projecting the bars when the lever is swung to a position at right angles thereto for swinging the legs to their extended positions, said bars being provided with slots, and studs projecting from the ends of said lever for engagbars fbing provided with longitudinal slots ex- .teriding from adjacenttheir centers in opposite directions, and lugs on the ends of said lever for slidably engaging the slots to project and retract them relatively to each other for opening and' closing the legs.

3. A table having pairs of legs pivotally connected thereto and disposed adjacent the corners thereof, a lever pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the table, bars slidably mounted on said table, links pivotally connected to said bars and to the legs, adjacent their pivoted ends, and said lever being slidably connected atits ends to said bars, for projecting and retracting the bars, when the lever is swung relatively to the table, for opening and closing the legs as a unit.

EMIL SENFT. 

